Traditional Ecological Knowledge Supports Ecosystem-Based Management in Disturbed Coastal Marine Social-Ecological Systems

Autor(es)

Stori, Fernanda Terra ^[1] ; Peres, Caiua Mani ^[1] ; Turra, Alexander ^[1] ; Pressey, Robert L. ^[2]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Oceanog Inst, Lab Coastal & Marine Ecosyst Management, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] James Cook Univ, Australian Res Council Ctr Excellence Coral Reef, Townsville, Qld - Australia

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE; v. 6, SEP 19 2019.
• Citações Web of Science: 1

Resumo

A growing number of studies suggest a participatory ecosystem approach to support decision-making toward resilience and sustainability in social-ecological systems. Social-ecological resilience (SER) principles and practices are recommended to manage natural crises. However, it is necessary to broaden our understanding of SER on human-induced disturbances driven by economic development projects. In this paper we present the social-ecological system of Araca Bay (Brazil), a small-scale fishery community that has experienced successive disturbances due to development projects since the 1930s. There was a lack of studies about the impacts of development projects in this bay. As part of a major project that aimed to build an ecosystem-based management plan for Araca Bay through a participatory planning process, we focused on investigating fishers' traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) to understand Araca Bay's small-scale fisheries social-ecological system. The objectives were to: (1) investigate fishers' TEK regarding management practices and linked social mechanisms, human-induced disturbances and their consequences for the social-ecological system, ecosystem goods and services, and future threats; and (2) provide information based on TEK to the participatory planning process and analyze its contribution to Araca Bay's ecosystem-based management plan. Combined methods were used during 3 years of intense research-action (2014-2017): in-depth ethno-oceanographic interviews with expert fishers; monitoring Araca Bay participatory meetings; and participant observation. Genuine local practices and social mechanisms from traditional culture were recorded, as well as TEK about 57 target fish species and methods to protect habitats and natural resources. Fishers also reported ecosystem disturbances and recovery processes. TEK was codified through SWOT analysis to assist the participatory planning process. Ecosystem services and threats based on TEK were brought to the participatory process, acknowledged by the participants, and incorporated into the management plan. TEK analysis proved to be an important methodology to provide historical environmental data regarding the impacts of development projects and support planning in disturbed ecosystems. In order to support coastal marine ecosystem-based management strategies toward SER and sustainability, researchers and practitioners should consider traditional territories in planning, recognize local practices and social mechanisms, and consider TEK on ecosystem goods and services and on historical human-induced disturbances. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 11/50317-5 - Biodiversidade e funcionamento de um ecossistema costeiro subtropical: subsídios para gestão integrada
• Beneficiário: Antonia Cecília Zacagnini Amaral
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa BIOTA - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 17/07477-8 - Construindo sustentabilidade em ecossistemas marinho-costeiros: uma análise de indicadores de resiliência socioecológica e critérios de ordenamento no Litoral Norte do Estado de São Paulo (Brasil)
• Beneficiário: Fernanda Terra Stori
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Exterior - Estágio de Pesquisa - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 14/16004-8 - Construindo sustentabilidade em ecossistemas marinho-costeiros: uma análise de indicadores de resiliência socioecológica e critérios de ordenamento no litoral norte do estado de São Paulo (Brasil)
• Beneficiário: Fernanda Terra Stori
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado